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Marks & Spencer Hit by Cyberattack, Customer Data Breached

2025-05-14

Marks & Spencer Hit by Cyberattack, Customer Data Breached

UK retail giant Marks & Spencer confirmed a cyberattack last month resulted in the theft of customer personal information. Stolen data includes names, dates of birth, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, household information, and online order histories. Marks & Spencer has reset online account passwords, but some stores remain disrupted with empty shelves. The ransomware gang DragonForce reportedly claimed responsibility, and other UK retailers like the Co-op and Harrods were also targeted. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre is investigating.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Wood Stronger Than Steel? This Startup Makes It a Reality

2025-05-14

Wood Stronger Than Steel? This Startup Makes It a Reality

A groundbreaking technology from the University of Maryland transforms ordinary wood into a material stronger than steel. InventWood, the licensee, has secured $15 million in Series A funding to build its first commercial plant. Initially focusing on building facades, the company aims to eventually replace concrete and steel in construction, significantly reducing the industry's carbon footprint. The process modifies the wood's molecular structure and compresses it, resulting in a material over 10 times stronger, with added fire resistance and rot protection.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Superwood biomaterial sustainable construction

YC Accuses Google of Stifling AI Startups

2025-05-13

YC Accuses Google of Stifling AI Startups

Y Combinator, a renowned startup accelerator, filed an amicus brief in the U.S. antitrust case against Google, accusing the search giant of stifling the U.S. startup ecosystem. YC claims Google's monopoly prevents investment in web search and AI startups that could challenge its dominance, leading to stagnation. YC calls for Google to take actions such as opening its search index, and suggests forced divestiture if changes aren't made within five years. The situation is complicated by YC's existing partnerships with Google and its close ties to OpenAI, a direct competitor to Google.

(techcrunch.com)

Startup

RCS Messaging Surpasses 1 Billion Daily Messages in the US

2025-05-13

RCS Messaging Surpasses 1 Billion Daily Messages in the US

Google announced at the Android Show that the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol now handles over 1 billion messages per day in the US. This milestone follows years of Google's efforts to get Apple to adopt RCS on iOS, improving cross-platform messaging. Previously, communication between Android and iOS users suffered from blurry images, poor group chat management, and other issues. While iOS 18 finally added RCS support, Apple keeps RCS chats green-bubbled, preserving the iMessage advantage.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Messaging Protocol

Biden Admin's AI Chip Export Rules Scrapped

2025-05-13

Biden Admin's AI Chip Export Rules Scrapped

The Biden administration's Artificial Intelligence Diffusion Rule, set to take effect May 15th, has been rescinded by the Department of Commerce. This rule imposed export limits on US-made AI chips to numerous countries. The DOC plans to issue a replacement, likely focusing on bilateral negotiations rather than blanket restrictions. This reversal sparks debate, with some viewing it as a correction and others seeing it as opening new avenues for international collaboration on AI technology.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

OpenAI's Stargate Data Center Project Delayed Amidst Tariff Uncertainty and Market Volatility

2025-05-13

OpenAI's Stargate Data Center Project Delayed Amidst Tariff Uncertainty and Market Volatility

OpenAI's ambitious Stargate data center project is facing delays due to economic uncertainty stemming from tariffs and growing market volatility. Cheaper AI services have made banks, private equity firms, and asset managers hesitant to invest in the project, which aims to raise up to $500 million for AI infrastructure. SoftBank, initially a major backer, hasn't finalized financing plans or engaged in detailed discussions with potential investors. Tariffs are expected to significantly increase data center construction costs, with estimates suggesting a 5-15% rise in overall build costs due to increased prices for server racks, cooling systems, and other components. Further complicating matters is a growing concern of overcapacity, as tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon adjust their data center strategies, potentially scaling back on construction projects.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Conciseness Prompts Cause AI Hallucinations

2025-05-13

Conciseness Prompts Cause AI Hallucinations

A new study by Giskard reveals that instructing AI chatbots to be concise can paradoxically increase hallucinations, especially on ambiguous topics. Researchers found that concise prompts limit the model's ability to identify and correct errors, prioritizing brevity over accuracy. Even advanced models like GPT-4 are affected. This highlights the tension between user experience and factual accuracy, urging developers to carefully design system prompts.

(techcrunch.com)

AI AI hallucinations

Whoop 5.0 Upgrade U-Turn: Free or Fee?

2025-05-11

Whoop 5.0 Upgrade U-Turn: Free or Fee?

Fitness tracker maker Whoop faced a backlash over its Whoop 5.0 upgrade policy. Initially, Whoop announced users would need to pay extra or extend subscriptions to upgrade, contradicting its previous promise of free upgrades. This sparked outrage. Facing criticism, Whoop quickly revised its policy, offering free upgrades to users with over 12 months remaining on their subscription and allowing shorter-term subscribers to extend for a free upgrade. While Whoop claimed this was a response to user feedback, some users questioned the veracity of its prior free upgrade claims. The incident highlights the importance of product upgrade strategies and user communication.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Upgrade Policy

Florida's Social Media Backdoor Bill Fails

2025-05-09

Florida's Social Media Backdoor Bill Fails

A Florida bill mandating social media companies provide law enforcement with an encryption backdoor to access user accounts and private messages has been defeated. The bill, which required a decryption mechanism for end-to-end encryption upon receiving a subpoena, was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn in the House after the Senate had voted in its favor. Digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation condemned the bill as dangerous and ill-conceived, arguing that secure backdoors are impossible to create without risking malicious exploitation and increasing vulnerabilities to data breaches. The bill's failure highlights concerns over user privacy and the challenges of balancing security with law enforcement access.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Netflix Launches ChatGPT-Powered Search: A Personalized Discovery Experience

2025-05-07

Netflix Launches ChatGPT-Powered Search: A Personalized Discovery Experience

Netflix unveiled a new AI-powered search experience leveraging OpenAI's ChatGPT. Users can describe their preferences using natural language, allowing for more nuanced searches like "something funny and upbeat" or even highly specific requests. Rolling out this week as an opt-in beta for iOS users, it follows a similar approach by Amazon's Fire TV and a now-discontinued Tubi feature. Netflix also announced plans to use generative AI for title card translations. The new search functionality will be a key test of how well AI-powered personalized recommendations can enhance user experience in a competitive streaming market.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Instagram Co-founder Slams AI for Prioritizing Engagement Over Useful Insights

2025-05-07

Instagram Co-founder Slams AI for Prioritizing Engagement Over Useful Insights

Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom criticized AI companies for prioritizing user engagement over providing genuinely helpful information. He likened these tactics to those used by social media companies for aggressive growth, arguing they harm user experience. Systrom noted that some AI companies sacrifice answer quality to boost metrics like usage time and daily active users. He urged AI companies to focus on high-quality responses instead of easily manipulated metrics. OpenAI responded by citing its user specs, acknowledging that its AI model might lack sufficient information and require clarification.

(techcrunch.com)

AI engagement

WhatsApp Wins $167M+ Verdict Against Spyware Maker NSO Group

2025-05-07

After a five-year legal battle, WhatsApp secured a major victory against spyware maker NSO Group. A jury awarded WhatsApp over $167 million in damages for a 2019 hacking campaign targeting over 1,400 users. The ruling, hailed as a landmark win for privacy, finds NSO Group liable for breaching federal and California laws. NSO Group plans to appeal the verdict.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

FTC Cracks Down on Hidden Fees: Transparency Mandate for Hotels, Tickets, and More

2025-05-07

FTC Cracks Down on Hidden Fees: Transparency Mandate for Hotels, Tickets, and More

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unveiled a new rule targeting deceptive fees, effective May 12th. This landmark regulation prohibits hidden charges for live events, hotels, and short-term rentals, banning practices like 'bait-and-switch' pricing. Businesses must clearly display the total price upfront, making it more prominent than other pricing details. While dynamic pricing is permitted, misleading information is strictly forbidden. The rule covers ticket sellers, lodging providers, and third-party platforms. The FTC provides guidance on which fees can be excluded (taxes, optional services), but these must be clearly disclosed. This is a significant victory for consumers long frustrated by hidden costs.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Hidden Fees

OpenAI Reverses Course, Nonprofit to Maintain Control

2025-05-05

OpenAI Reverses Course, Nonprofit to Maintain Control

OpenAI, after initially announcing plans to become a for-profit organization, has decided its nonprofit arm will retain control over its for-profit entity. The nonprofit will become the controlling shareholder of a public benefit corporation (PBC), overseeing and controlling OpenAI's operations. This decision follows discussions with California and Delaware's Attorney General offices and significant pushback, including a lawsuit from Elon Musk, who argued the shift would abandon OpenAI's original nonprofit mission. While OpenAI claimed the conversion was necessary for funding, concerns remained about its impact on its charitable goals. CEO Sam Altman stated that the company may eventually require trillions of dollars to achieve its mission.

(techcrunch.com)

AI

Riot Games' Anti-Cheat Masterclass: How Valorant Fights Cheaters

2025-05-04

Riot Games' Anti-Cheat Masterclass: How Valorant Fights Cheaters

Riot Games' anti-cheat team utilizes its kernel-level anti-cheat system, Vanguard, to ban thousands of Valorant cheaters daily. Vanguard employs various strategies, including leveraging Windows security features, hardware fingerprinting, and infiltrating cheat communities. They even publicly shame cheat developers and strategically allow some cheating to slow down the evolution of cheat technology. While advanced cheats like DMA attacks and screen reader cheats persist, Riot's team continually adapts its techniques and prioritizes transparency to address the increasingly sophisticated cheating landscape, with AI-assisted cheating posing a new challenge.

(techcrunch.com)

Game

Threads Surpasses 350M Monthly Active Users, Challenging X's Dominance

2025-05-03

Threads Surpasses 350M Monthly Active Users, Challenging X's Dominance

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed during the company's Q1 2025 earnings call on Wednesday that Instagram Threads, its competitor to X, has now surpassed 350 million monthly active users. This represents a 30 million user increase from the previous quarter's reported 320 million. Growth accelerated, with 30 million users added in Q1 compared to 20 million in Q4 2024. Remarkably, Threads added almost as many users in a single quarter as newer competitor Bluesky, which currently boasts roughly 35 million users. Meanwhile, X claims over 600 million monthly active users, according to its CEO Linda Yaccarino. While still smaller than Meta's other social apps (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp), Threads' growth solidifies its position in the microblogging landscape. Meta reports over 3.4 billion people use at least one of its apps daily. Zuckerberg highlighted this growth as indicating Threads is “on track to become our next major social app,” citing a 35% increase in time spent on the app due to recommendation system improvements.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Epic Games Defeats Apple: Fortnite Returns to iOS, Developers Can Bypass App Store Fees

2025-05-01

Following a major legal victory against Apple, Epic Games announced that its Epic Games Store will allow developers to open webshops, enabling players to make out-of-app purchases and circumvent Apple and Google's fees. This move stems from Apple's App Store's 30% commission, with a judge ruling that Apple couldn't prevent developers from directing users to buy digital goods outside the Apple ecosystem. Epic is bringing Fortnite back to the iOS App Store, incentivizing users to purchase digital goods directly through Epic for better prices. The Epic Games Store's new webshops feature will make it easier for other developers to follow suit. Starting in June, Epic will waive its cut from the first $1 million earned annually by each game, only taking a percentage after surpassing that milestone—a more developer-friendly model than Apple's.

(techcrunch.com)

Game

AI Benchmarking Scandal: Did Big Tech Rig Chatbot Arena?

2025-05-01

AI Benchmarking Scandal: Did Big Tech Rig Chatbot Arena?

A new paper from Cohere, Stanford, MIT, and Ai2 accuses LM Arena, the organization behind the popular Chatbot Arena benchmark, of unfairly favoring top AI companies like Meta, OpenAI, Google, and Amazon. The researchers allege that these companies were allowed to privately test multiple model variants, suppressing poor-performing results to boost their leaderboard rankings. Analyzing over 2.8 million battles, the study found evidence of increased sampling rates giving these companies an unfair advantage. LM Arena disputes the findings, citing inaccuracies, and plans to improve its sampling algorithm, but denies manipulating rankings. The controversy raises concerns about fairness and transparency in AI benchmarking and highlights the competitive tactics employed by large tech companies in the AI race.

(techcrunch.com)

AI Leaderboard Manipulation AI Company Competition

Apple Warns of Government Spyware Targeting Users in 100 Countries

2025-04-30

Apple has alerted users in at least 100 countries that their devices may have been targeted by government-backed spyware. Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino and Dutch right-wing activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek publicly confirmed receiving Apple's notifications. This isn't the first such incident; Apple, Google, and WhatsApp have issued similar warnings before. The event highlights the serious threat of government-sponsored spyware to personal privacy and security, raising concerns about digital safety and privacy protection.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Microsoft's AI Code Generation: 20-30% of Code is Now AI-Written

2025-04-30

Microsoft's AI Code Generation: 20-30% of Code is Now AI-Written

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed at Meta's LlamaCon that 20-30% of the code in Microsoft's repositories is AI-generated. This figure aligns with Google's CEO's recent statement of over 30% AI-generated code. However, Microsoft's success varies across programming languages, with Python showing more progress than C++. Microsoft's CTO previously predicted 95% AI-generated code by 2030. While the exact measurement methods remain unclear, these figures highlight the significant potential of AI in software development.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Google Play Store Sees Massive App Purge: A Necessary Evil?

2025-04-30

Google Play Store Sees Massive App Purge: A Necessary Evil?

The number of apps on the Google Play Store has plummeted from approximately 3.4 million at the start of 2024 to around 1.8 million today, a nearly 50% decrease. This isn't a global trend; Apple's App Store saw a slight increase. Google attributes the decline to stricter app quality standards implemented in July, targeting low-quality, scammy apps. They've also invested in AI threat detection, stronger privacy policies, and developer tools, banning numerous policy-violating apps and developer accounts. While the EU's new trader status rules may have played a role, the decline began before their implementation. Despite the reduction, new app releases on Google Play are still up year-over-year.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech App Purge

Indian Court Orders Block of Encrypted Email Provider ProtonMail

2025-04-29

Indian Court Orders Block of Encrypted Email Provider ProtonMail

An Indian court has ordered a nationwide block of the encrypted email service ProtonMail following a complaint from a design firm alleging obscene emails were sent via the platform. The firm claims ProtonMail refused to cooperate in identifying the sender. This is not the first attempt to block ProtonMail in India; last year, a similar attempt was thwarted by Swiss authorities. ProtonMail argues that blocking the service doesn't stop cybercrime but harms legitimate users' ability to communicate securely.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Government-Backed Hackers Behind Most Zero-Day Exploits in 2024

2025-04-29

Government-Backed Hackers Behind Most Zero-Day Exploits in 2024

Google's latest research reveals that government-backed hackers were responsible for the majority of attributed zero-day exploits in 2024. While the total number of zero-days decreased from 98 in 2023 to 75 in 2024, Google attributed at least 23 to government actors. Ten were directly linked to government hackers (five to China, five to North Korea), and eight originated from spyware makers like NSO Group, which primarily sell to governments. The remaining attributed zero-days were likely exploited by cybercriminals. Although spyware companies' zero-day production is slowing, Google notes that the industry will continue to thrive as long as government demand persists. Importantly, security features like iOS/macOS Lockdown Mode and Google Pixel's MTE are proving effective against these attacks, highlighting advancements in zero-day defense.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech zero-day exploits government hackers

ChatGPT's Shopping Upgrade: A Direct Challenge to Google

2025-04-28

ChatGPT's Shopping Upgrade: A Direct Challenge to Google

OpenAI announced an upgrade to ChatGPT's web search, enhancing the online shopping experience. Now, when users search for products, ChatGPT offers recommendations, images, reviews, and direct purchase links. OpenAI is rolling this out gradually across categories like fashion, beauty, and electronics. This move aims to compete with Google by offering a more personalized and convenient online shopping experience, leveraging ChatGPT's natural language processing capabilities to provide more accurate recommendations based on user history. While OpenAI's CEO previously opposed ads in ChatGPT, he's expressed openness to "tasteful" affiliate advertising.

(techcrunch.com)

AI Shopping Search

Silicon Valley's Open Secret: How Networks Beat Legacy Tech

2025-04-28

Silicon Valley's Open Secret: How Networks Beat Legacy Tech

Silicon Valley's dominance isn't accidental. This article contrasts its rise with that of Boston's Route 128, highlighting Silicon Valley's open networks, dynamic culture, and thriving venture capital as key differentiators. Unlike Boston's large, secretive tech firms, Silicon Valley fosters talent mobility, information sharing, and experimental innovation, creating a powerful synergistic effect. The author uses the example of Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) to illustrate the power of open networks, showing how even regions with excellent universities and research institutions, like Boston, struggle to compete without a similarly open ecosystem.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Network Effects

DeepMind Workers Seek Unionization Over AI Ethics Concerns

2025-04-27

DeepMind Workers Seek Unionization Over AI Ethics Concerns

Around 300 London-based Google DeepMind employees are reportedly seeking to unionize with the Communication Workers Union, citing concerns over Google's removal of a pledge against using AI for weapons or surveillance, and its work with the Israeli military, including a $1.2 billion cloud contract. Employees feel “duped” by these actions, with at least five having resigned. This unionization effort highlights growing ethical concerns among tech workers.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Slate Auto: The Anti-Tesla EV Startup Targeting Affordability

2025-04-26

Slate Auto: The Anti-Tesla EV Startup Targeting Affordability

Slate Auto, a new American electric vehicle startup, has launched a radically different approach to EVs. Their truck boasts affordability, deep customization, and a decidedly analog feel—manual windows, no central infotainment screen, and even unpainted bodywork. Transforming from a two-seater pickup to a five-seater SUV, it's priced under $20,000 (with tax credits) and slated for late 2026 delivery. Backed by Jeff Bezos and targeting a market underserved by high-priced tech-focused rivals, Slate Auto plans to make its profit through extensive customization options, offering over 100 accessories and DIY-friendly upgrades.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Customization

Perplexity's Bold Move: Copying Google's Playbook?

2025-04-25

Perplexity's Bold Move: Copying Google's Playbook?

Perplexity, an AI search engine, is building its own browser, Comet, to collect user data outside its app for targeted advertising, as revealed by CEO Aravind Srinivas. This raises privacy concerns and draws parallels to Google's antitrust lawsuit. Perplexity's partnerships with Motorola and potential deals with Samsung, mirroring Google's strategy with Chrome and Android, aim to build a comprehensive user profile. While Srinivas argues for more relevant ads, this move may fuel distrust in big tech's data tracking practices. OpenAI and Perplexity have expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if Google is forced to divest.

(techcrunch.com)

AI

Bluesky's Censorship Loophole: Turkey's Crackdown and the Client Response

2025-04-25

Bluesky's Censorship Loophole: Turkey's Crackdown and the Client Response

Following a request from the Turkish government to block 72 accounts, questions have arisen about Bluesky's decentralization. While the official Bluesky app complied with the censorship demands, third-party clients based on the AT Protocol, such as Skeets and Ouranos, can bypass censorship because they don't enforce geolocation tagging. However, this workaround is not permanent; as third-party clients gain popularity, they too may face government pressure. Developer Aviva Ruben is building Deer.social, allowing users to disable Bluesky's official moderation service and manually configure their location to counter future censorship attempts. This highlights the complex interplay of technology and politics in the pursuit of decentralized social media.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Controversial AI Startup Aims for Total Job Automation

2025-04-20

Controversial AI Startup Aims for Total Job Automation

Silicon Valley startup Mechanize, founded by renowned AI researcher Tamay Besiroglu, has sparked controversy with its ambitious goal: the complete automation of all work. This mission, alongside Besiroglu's connection to the respected AI research institute Epoch, has drawn criticism. Mechanize aims to automate all jobs by providing the necessary data, evaluations, and digital environments, resulting in a massive potential market but raising significant concerns about widespread job displacement. While Besiroglu argues that automation will lead to explosive economic growth and higher living standards, he fails to adequately address how people would maintain income without jobs. Despite the extreme ambition, the underlying technical challenge is real, and many large tech companies are pursuing similar research.

(techcrunch.com)

AI startup controversy

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